Today's Devotional - April 18
Reasons to Be Humble
Therefore He says: "God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble."
James 4:6b
[TABLE="class: box1"]
[TR]
[TD]Recommended Reading Daniel 4:23-33 [/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]
One day King Herod mounted his throne in Caesarea to speak to the people. Wanting to curry the king's favor, the people cried out, "[This is] the voice of a god and not of a man!" (Acts 12:22) Unfortunately, instead of deflecting their praise from himself to the true God, King Herod reveled in it. And it cost him dearly: "Then immediately an angel of the Lord struck him, because he did not give glory to God" (Acts 12:23a).
A simple principle of God's economy is repeated at least four times in Scripture: God stands against (resists, pulls down) the proud but gives grace to (supports, encourages, expands the influence) the humble (Psalm 138:6; Proverbs 3:34; Matthew 23:12; James 4:6). The king of Babylon made the same mistake as Herod -- giving himself credit for abilities and accomplishments for which God deserved the praise (Daniel 4:30). And God afflicted the king for a time until he repented of his pride (Daniel 4:33-37). To whom much is given, much is required (Luke 12:48).
The wise person lives in a constant state of humility -- not out of fear of God, but from an understanding that everything comes from Him (1 Chronicles 29:14).
Perish each thought of human pride, let God alone be magnified.
Philip Doddridge
Read-thru-the-Bible
2 Kings 1-3